Smith is a highly-respected all-women’s college in Northampton, Massachusetts. Students flock to Smith from 67 countries, and 17% are first-generation. The college is especially well-known for having an open curriculum. This means that you can take what you want when you want, aside from major requirements and a few first-year courses. Students who have a vision for their future and want to focus on what they love adore the open curriculum, as they can dive fully into the subject they would like to be an expert in. The acceptance rate is about 22%.

Pomona is a leading small liberal arts college in Claremont, California. They are known for attracting students who are intellectually curious and quite adventurous. Originally opened as an ‘east coast’ school in California, Pomona encapsulates what many students love in a liberal arts school: exploration, opportunity, and a nurturing ethos. There are about 1,730 students, a 7:1 student-to-faculty ratio, and the average class size is 13. Over half of students pursue research with faculty, and students are fairly evenly distributed across the humanities, natural science, and social sciences. The acceptance rate is 7%.  

Santa Clara University is a well-respected mid-sized Catholic university in the heart of Silicon Valley. They attract students driven to build things, from launching businesses to designing products to developing new ways of seeing the world. Half of recently admitted students are from California, but admitted students also represent 50 states and over 65 countries. Undergraduates can attend the College of Arts & Sciences, the Leavey School of Business, or the School of Engineering. The overall first-year acceptance rate is 47%.

Pitzer is a small liberal arts school full of people who are passionate about improving the world. The community is packed with students who want to make an impact, and Pitzer has cultivated a program that empowers them towards a meaningful future. Students benefit from small class sizes and a close-knit student body, while also having access to thousands of additional course options through The Claremont Colleges. The acceptance rate is about 27%.

Vassar is a private liberal arts college in Poughkeepsie, NY, a small city about an hour and a half north of New York City by train. The college has an open curriculum, which gives students opportunities for both broad exploration and deep specialization once you land on what you love most. There are about 2,500 undergraduates and the student to teacher ratio is only 7:1. The average class has only 19 students. They receive about 12,500 applications annually for less than 700 spots in the first-year class. Students come to Vassar from all around the world, and share a passion for learning in a creative environment that is nurturing, encouraging, and challenging. The acceptance rate is under 19%.  

Southern Methodist University, or SMU, is a private research university in Dallas, Texas. As one of the largest metro areas in the US, Dallas offers SMU students impressive opportunities for internships and field-based learning. The city is, in fact, an extension of the classroom for the 7,000 or so undergraduate students, who pursue programs across business, engineering, education, and the humanities. A large percentage of students, 41%, come from Texas, but the community represents all US States and Territories, and dozens of countries. The acceptance rate is 61%.

Over 32,000 students a year apply to Tulane, and it isn’t because of just one reason. The academics are amazing, the culture is amazing, the community is amazing, and it’s in New Orleans, perhaps the most fun city to be a college student — especially if you love music and celebration. The culture of Tulane is grounded in enthusiastic service to others, and as a private research university with this strong mission they are doing important work in labs and around the world. The undergraduate experience is varied, but with a shared foundation. All students complete the core curriculum, which is designed to spark curiosity and encourage exploration. The acceptance rate is about 14%.

The University of Texas at Austin is one of the most well-respected public research universities in the country. This is especially true for out-of-state students interested in a STEM field, as UT Austin has impressive programs in computer science, engineering, and scientific research. They also have an iconic college culture. Austin is an exciting college town, and the university has a beloved cultured centered around hard work, athletics, and live music. The in-state acceptance rate is about 38%. The out-of-state acceptance rate is only 10%. And the international student acceptance rate is slightly higher at 13%.

William & Mary is a top public university with 115 majors and 7,000 undergraduate students. They are known as a fun college experience, with academics that pack a punch. The campus is beautiful, and they attract students from around the world who want a balanced college experience with loads of opportunities. There are amazing opportunities beyond campus, too, like the St. Andrews Joint Degree Programme. Students also have access to research, internships, and community-engaged learning. The acceptance rate is about 36%.

Northeastern University is a leading research university with campuses across the US, in England, and Canada — but based in Boston, Massachusetts. Northeastern has a very large undergraduate community, with nearly 25,000 students enrolled full-time. They offer 371 majors including single-subject majors and multi-disciplinary programs, and the most popular programs are in business, computer science, and the health sciences. Northeastern is especially famous for their co-op program, an immersive experiential full-time placement that positions undergrads ahead of the pack before graduating. It’s like an internship on steroids, and helps to define the Northeastern culture. They receive the over 100,000 applications, and the acceptance rate is 5.22%. 

Wellesley is a prestigious all-women’s liberal arts college in Wellesley, Massachusetts. The college is especially well-known for offering a close-knit community with a global perspective. There are over 50 majors on offer, and the college is passionate about supporting student endeavors in service, advocacy, and entrepreneurship. They are highly selective when it comes to admissions, and only accepted 13.7% of first-year applicants for the Class of 2029.  

Harvey Mudd is a hyper-selective and super specialized college in Claremont, California that only offers a Bachelor of Science degree. They specialize in the sciences, mathematics, and engineering, and take that specialization super seriously. The student body is small, with under 1,000 students. Despite the small size, Harvey Mudd is widely regarded as one of the best undergraduate colleges in the country for students focused on STEM. Harvey Mudd is quite tight-lipped about their acceptance rate, but the most recent officially reported rate of acceptance was 12.7%.

Haverford is a leading small liberal arts college outside of Philadelphia. They are known for offering an intensive learning environment that encourages both exploration and excellence. There are just under 1,500 students, and 98% live on campus. This, combined with a student-run and authored Honor Code, contribute to a tight-knit community that prioritizes togetherness, mutual support, and also mutual challenge. Students at Haverford aim to always be raising the bar. This starts before they are even accepted. That rate of admission at Haverford for the Class of 2029 was 13.3%.

Johns Hopkins University is a top private research university in Baltimore, Maryland, placing it conveniently between New York City, DC, and Philadelphia. It’s not just geography that JHU has going for it, though. Over the past decade, Johns Hopkins has become one of the hardest universities to get into in the country — even more difficult than some members of the Ivy League. The school is not overwhelmingly large, with 5,600 undergraduates, but they punch above their weight. They rank first in the country for research investment, have a strong entrepreneurship culture, and heavily prioritize real-world experience. Nearly every student takes part in at least one research or internship experience before graduating, along with pursuing one of 55 majors and as many minors. The acceptance rate is about 4%.